Argentina sends Defence, Foreign Affairs Ministers to Ghana to demand release of detained warship
A high-powered Argentine delegation is expected in Ghana to meet with authorities to discuss the possibilities of releasing its navy ship, Libertad, which has been detained in the country.
The vessel was detained in the country a couple of weeks ago following a court order sought by NML Capital Ltd, a subsidiary of US hedge fund, Elliott Management, after the Latin American nation failed to pay its 2002 debt.
And on October 11, 2012, a Ghana court refused to free the Argentine warship. The judge that sat on the case said Argentina had waived immunity as part of its loan deal.
The ruling by the Ghana court has not gone down well with the government of Argentina and reports say the country’s deputy Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Alfredo Forti and Eduardo Zuain will travel to Ghana to negotiate with the authorities and demand the release of the frigate ARA Libertad.
The Ghana court which accepted the seizure of “vulture fund” NML, rejected a submission from the Argentine government and decided to keep the injunction that restrains the Frigate in the port of Tema.
Sections of the Argentine media last Friday quoted a statement from the country’s Defence Ministry saying “This decision is a violation of international standards that establish the immunities enjoyed by the frigate in their capacity warship of Argentina.With this measure, which engages the international responsibility of Ghana, is added to the judicial issue a political dimension that affects bilateral relations.”
“Without prejudice to any judicial remedy which shall be filed immediately, (the ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Arturo Puricelli Héctor Timerman and) have decided to move to the capital of that country to the deputy ministers and Eduardo Alfredo Forti Zuain to carry joint management out to the highest authorities of the government of Ghana,” the statement said.
The Argentine government says it is confident that the response of these “management authorities allow this to rapidly end the controversy over the actions of vulture funds. Otherwise, Argentina reiterates its determination to use all available resources, both at the bilateral and international recognition for its sovereign rights.”
By Ekow Quandzie
I really hope that common sense will prevail and Ghana will soon release the Argentine school vessel and its crew, that includes marines on their graduation trip , not only from Argentina but also from many South American countries. This first visit of the teaching vessel “Frigate Libertad” to the Ghana port of Tema can’t turn out to be the last one.